[Contents of BDNF, miR-30a-5p and miR-122 during alcohol withdrawal syndrome].

Some BDNF (brain-derived neurotrophic factor)-targeted microRNAs such as miR-30a-5p associate with alcohol dependence phenomenon however their relationship with AWS is not described. We aimed to measure serum BDNF concentration and relative content of miR-30a-5p over the course of alcohol abstinence and compare obtained results with clinics of AWS. Additionally, we studied relative serum content of miR-30a-5p, a microRNA which does not target BDNF but relates to alcohol use disorder.

PNPLA3 rs738409 associates with alcoholic liver cirrhosis but not with serum levels of IL6, IL10, IL8 or CCL2 in the Russian population.

Introduction And Aim: Polymorphic variant rs738409 within the PNPLA3 gene associates with alcoholic liver cirrhosis (ALC) in heavy drinkers of various ancestry but has not yet been established in the Russian population characterized by high incidence of ALC. PNPLA3 rs738409 involvement in the inflammatory process has been proposed as one of the mechanisms of liver dysfunction. Relationship between the PNPLA3 polymorphism and the biochemical markers of inflammation in patients with ALC remains unclear.

[A role of inflammasomes in the pathogenesis of neurological and mental diseases].

Inflammasomes are macromolecular complexes that contain many copies of receptors recognizing molecular patterns of pathogenic agents (PAMP) and damage-associated structures (DAMP), and also include molecules of adapter protein ASC and procaspase-1. Activation of inflammasomes leads to the formation of active caspase-1 that, in turn, provides the maturation of pro-IL-1β and pro-IL-18 to IL-1β and IL-18. The latter cytokines play an important role in control of neuroinlfammation in the central nervous system contributing to the pathogenesis of a series of neurological, neurodegenerative and mental disorders.

[Cardiac damage in liver cirrhosis in alcohol abusers].

Aim: to estimate the contribution of liver cirrhosis (LC) to the development of heart diseases in alcohol abusers.

Subjects And Methods: The investigation included 80 patients with alcoholic LC without a history of cardiovascular and respiratory diseases and, as a control group, 32 alcohol abusers without a history of chronic diseases of the liver and cardiovascular and respiratory systems; 45 patients with alcoholic cardiomyopathy (ACM) and congestive heart failure without a history of coronary heart disease and valvular diseases, among whom 11 patients were found to have LC. In addition to standard clinical examination, all the patients underwent electrocardiography, by estimating the corrected QT interval (QTc), standard echocardiography; and those without ACM underwent estimation of left ventricular (LV) kinetics using speckle-tracking echocardiography.

[Serum markers of fibrosis and endothelial dysfunction in patients with alcoholism, with varying degrees of liver fibrosis].

In the serum of patients with alcoholism with varying degrees of severity of liver fibrosis were studied the content markers of fibrosis, endothelial dysfunction and proinflammatory cytokines. Concentration in blood indicators of fibrogenesis--collagen type 4, hyaluronic acid, TIMP-1, TIMP-2, YKL-40 and MMP-2 is considerably increased at the 4 degree of fibrosis and moderately increased at low and zero degrees of liver fibrosis. Similar results were obtained in respect of proinflammatory cytokines Il-6, IL-8, IL-12/p70 and IL-12/p40.

[The role of lipoprotein-associated enzyme paraoxonase 1 and its polymorphisms in the pathogenesis of endothelial dysfunction and somatic complications in patients with alcoholism: Review ].

A review of recent data on the role of the multifunctional enzyme, associated with high density lipoproteins - paraoxonase 1 (PON1) in maintaining healthy endothelial function by detoxifying both oxidized low density lipoproteins and homocysteine thiolactone. The additional contribution to the protection of the endothelium against damage makes organophosphatase activity of PON1 involved in the detoxification products of tobacco smoke. The reduction of antioxidant activity of PON1 promotes the differentiation of monocytes into macrophages and the development of inflammation.

[Blood Content of Markers of Inflammation and Cytokines in Patients With Alcoholic Cardiomyopathy and Ischemic Heart Disease at Various Stages of Heart Failure].

We conducted a comparative study of content proinflammatory cytokines, biomarkers of inflammatory process, biochemical indicators of congestive heart failure (CHF) and hemodynamic parameters in patients with alcoholic cardiomyopathy (ACMP) and ischemic heart disease (IHD) with various NYHA classes. We examined 62 men with ACMP (n = 45) and IHD (n = 17) and NYHA class III-IV CHF. Patients of both groups had lowered ejection fraction (EF), dilated cardiac chambers, and increased left ventricular (LV) myocardial mass index (MMI).

[Blood Content of Markers of Inflammation and Cytokines in Patients With Alcoholic Cardiomyopathy and Ischemic Heart Disease at Various Stages of Heart Failure].

We conducted a comparative study of content proinflammatory cytokines, biomarkers of inflammatory process, biochemical indicators of congestive heart failure (CHF) and hemodynamic parameters in patients with alcoholic cardiomyopathy (ACMP) and ischemic heart disease (IHD) with various NYHA classes. We examined 62 men with ACMP (n=45) and IHD (n=17) and NYHA class III-IV CHF. Patients of both groups had lowered ejection fraction (EF), dilated cardiac chambers, and increased left ventricular (LV) myocardial mass index (MMI).

[Oxidative stress in the of alcoholic liver disease].

Parameters reflecting oxidative stress (OS) have been studied in 37 patients with alcoholic liver disease (ALD) during admission to the hospital and 2 weeks after the beginning of therapy. The patients were divided into 3 groups: alcoholic hepatitis (AH), alcoholic cirrhosis with hepatic insufficiency (the group C with Child-Paquet) and terminal stage patients (they subsequently died). All patients were characterized by a significant increase in plasma products of lipid peroxidation (conjugated diene and malondialdehyde) and decrease of the ceruloplasmin level.

[Immunoinflammatory changes (myocarditis?) in chronic heart failure in alcoholic patients].

Aim: To estimate the contribution of immuno-inflammatory changes to the formation of clinical and hemodynamic features in alcoholic patients with chronic heart failure (CHF).

Subjects And Methods: Forty-five males with CHF in the presence of alcohol-induced heart damage (AIHD) who had been admitted to therapeutic units for decompensated heart failure were examined. A control group consisted of 20 men with the CHF severity comparable with the NYHA classification in the presence of prior myocardial infarction.

Use of HLDF-6 peptide for correction of disturbances in the endogenous opioid system in offspring of morphine-tolerant animals.

We studied the effect of bioactive peptide HLDF-6 on functional activity of the endogenous antinociceptive system in the offspring of morphine-tolerant animals. Disturbances in this system included changes in the thermonociceptive threshold and enkephalinase A activity in various brain structures. The peptide acted as a potent regulator of the homeostasis in systems responsible for the synthesis and catabolism of endogenous opioids.

The use of naloxone in small doses in complex therapy of postabstinent heroin syndrome: enkephalinase mechanisms.

The use of naloxone hydrochloride (0.2-0.4 mg) in complex therapy of adolescent heroin addicts significantly prolonged the half-life of serum leu-enkephalin, slightly elevated the thresholds of thermal nociceptive reactions, and improved some clinical indices (considerably reduced drug addiction, eliminated affective disorders, etc.

Differences in genetic predisposition to high anxiety in two inbred rat strains: role of substance P, diazepam binding inhibitor fragment and neuropeptide Y.

Rationale: Regulatory neuropeptide systems appear to modulate anxiety and emotionality, since anxiety in rats can be increased by intracerebroventricular (ICV) administration of diazepam-binding-inhibitor fragment (DBI) and decreased by ICV administration of neuropeptide Y (NPY) or substance P (SP).

Objective: Involvement of these three neuropeptides in genetic predisposition to anxiety was studied in two inbred rat strains.

Methods: Levels of anxiety to novel environments were first measured in Fischer-344 (F-344/N) and Wistar Albino Glaxo (WAG/G) rats using open-field conflict, hole-board, black and white box, elevated-plus maze and Vogel lick suppression procedures.

Formation of morphine tolerance in offspring of morphine-tolerant animals: neurochemical and neuroimmune correlates.

We carried out a complex physiological, neurochemical, and neuroimmunologic study of the formation of tolerance to analgetic effect of morphine and analyzed enkephalinase A activity in different brain structures and serotonin antibodies in the serum. More early development of morphine tolerance and a sharp increase in serum antibody titer was found in the offspring of morphine-tolerant rats. This points to an imbalance in the neurotransmitter system and can serve as a diagnostic marker of endogenous opioid system pathology.

Changes in thermonociceptive thresholds and the role of enkephalinase A in homeostasis in morphine-tolerant rat offspring.

The dynamics of thermonociceptive thresholds as a marker of the state of the endogenous opioid system was studied in the offspring of morphine-tolerant rats. Significant, age-dependent increase in thermonociceptive thresholds and higher levels of enkephalinase A in structures of the endogenous antinociceptive system were observed in the offspring compared with the control. These findings attest to disturbances of the opioid system in the progeny of morphine-tolerant rats and confirm the key role of enkephalinase A in the maintenance of homeostasis disturbed by chronic prenatal morphine treatment.

[A comprehensive study of the neurochemical and immune mechanisms of morphine tolerance: the effects of naloxone].

To test the authors' hypothesis about the role of endopeptidase (enkephalinase A, in particular) in mechanisms of morphine tolerance and blocking action of small doses of naloxone, they studied nociception reactions, morphine antibodies titres and enkephalinase A activity after morphine, d-phenylalanine and naloxone injection in brain structures. It is shown that activity of enkephalinase A in structures of endogenous antinociceptive system increased simultaneously with morphine antibodies titres in tolerance condition. Injection of small dose naloxone inhibited enkephalinase activity in brain structures and decreased morphine antibodies titres to these in control morphine-sensitive rats and therefore suppressed morphine tolerance.

[Modification by alpha-interferon of ethanol-induced changes in the level of opioid peptides in the rat striatum and hypophysis].

Content of Met-enkephalin in striatum and of beta-endorphin in rat hypophysis were estimated after administration of ethanol and alpha-interferon into the animals. Ethanol decreased Met-enkephalin content in striatum and of beta-endorphin in hypophysis. Preadministration of alpha-interferon into brain ventricles before ethanol administration led to an increase in concentration of Met-enkephalin, while content of beta-endorphin was unaltered.